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Just a few paces away from the 145th Street 3 train stop, Real’s Lounge offers an unexpected, unpretentious den of activity: a D.J. booth at one end, a raised karaoke stage along an entire wall for the Tuesday-night action, and a pool table in a far corner. There are open-mike comedy sessions on Thursdays and, more auspiciously, good live jazz on Sundays. A disco ball does its slow rotisserie on the ceiling, while a large-screen television (flanked on each side by its small-screen disciples) dominates above the bar counter, belting out BET and sports. Silver balloons tied to tables sometimes protrude in flotillas across the generous floor space. — John Wheeler-Rappe